I picked up The Art of Non-Conformity a couple of years ago on a whim. At first I thought Guillebeau was nothing short of flaky. A world traveler and Internet entrepreneur, Guillebeau talked about just earning enough to get by, following your passion, and enjoying life. As a suburban mother with a husband, two kids, two dogs, and a cat, this was crazy talk. We have a mortgage and an orthodontist to support.

But I kept reading and Guillebeau philosophy of non-conformity calling for creative self-employment, unconventional living arrangements, and listening to that call to adventure started to grow on me. Not so much that I plan on moving into teardrop trailer, launching a career as a folk singer, and hitting the road, but it did raise some very good questions.

What's wrong with making a modest living doing what you love, whether that's singing, writing, or creating software? Who said we all had to be Bill Gates, James Patterson, or Justin Bieber? How much do you really need to spend on college to follow your dreams? Do you own your possessions or do they own you? Is happiness really a corner office, working to build someone else's dream? Are the Joneses really worth keeping up with? Is there a way to live your dreams and do well in the world?

These are all good questions for soon-to-be graduates to ask themselves.